Do the impossible
Posted in algebra 1, assessment, geometry on Nov 18th, 2009
If you are assigning scores to questions on a test, I used to make hard questions worth more points than easy questions, because I thought that they should carry a greater reward for correct answers. This caused problems because many students who had a decent level of understanding of material were not getting the questions [...]
Posted in Differentiation, algebra 1, geometry on Sep 20th, 2009
One of the things I’d like to do this year is engage more students at their level. Perhaps try to have more class time where there are multiple activities/groupings simultaneously. The main idea behind this is that my one class, one-idea, one-option norm is almost guaranteed to miss the sweet spot for low and high [...]
Posted in algebra 1, class design, geometry on Sep 8th, 2009
Unless student exploration and problem solving are the task at hand, give the kids access to correct answers for every activity they complete. I find that one of the biggest differences between the way that I complete problems and the way most of my students do is that I check the answer using the back [...]
Posted in algebra 1, geometry, pre-algebra on May 31st, 2009
As we finish off the year, in Pre-Algebra, I have students working on dimensions. Here’s a sheet I just finished to help them apply formulas for finding Area and Perimeter of 2-D shapes Volume and Surface Area of 3-D shapes
Posted in algebra 1, pre-algebra, what can you do with this on May 25th, 2009
On September 23rd, 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter lost contact with NASA engineers. After an exhaustive search to reacquire the signal until the 25th, the Orbiter was assumed to have been destroyed as it entered Mars’s atmosphere or to have bounced off and “re-entered heliocentric space.” Software guiding the Mars Climate Orbiter assumed a set [...]
Posted in algebra 1, geometry, pre-algebra on May 21st, 2009
I ordered, on suggestion of a former teacher of mine, a set of books called The Art of Problem Solving which comes in the basic and advanced varieties. I’m planning on using them as supplements to class as well as required work for kids on the math team. Concise, full of examples, and easy to [...]
Posted in algebra 1 on May 18th, 2009
A few things. There are a few lesson plans, but mostly student worksheets and materials to use while teaching my Algebra 1 unit on systems of equations and inequalities. There’s a lesson at the end on using them to model situations in the real world. The “Extra Resources” handout includes links to a set of [...]
Posted in algebra 1 on May 9th, 2009
I’ve spent the morning working to write a new unit on systems of equations. Here’s my progress so far. The unit is currently missing a few skills. Activities for determining the number of solutions there are in a system and solving systems of inequalities are not up yet. But I’m done for the moment. The [...]
If I were to take notes, I mean, since I took notes this entire year on everything I would like to do differently next year. It will be hard easy to correct all my mistakes. This should be done over the summer, when there’s not so much going on every day, erg, I think I [...]
Posted in algebra 1 on Apr 28th, 2009
1. Cool ways present quadratic equations. Such as graphing, and calculating the hang time and max height in these. 172 ft dive – is a test question right now 10.7meter belly flop skateboard jumping great wall 2. Teaching students to use GeoGebra in Geometry. Designing dynamic figures, and utilizing the algebra features to make illustrations [...]
I don't speak for my school district.
